Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s foreign minister, is set to take over the largely ceremonial position of president. <br /><br /> Germany’s president is not directly elected by the people, but by an assembly of 1,260 people – members of the federal parliament and special delegates from 16 regional parliaments.<br /><br /> The president as head of state represents Germany abroad, which might lead to tension in Berlin’s relation with the United States. <br /><br /> Steinmeier, a 61-year old Social Democrat, was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump during the US election calling him a “preacher of hate”.<br /><br /> Last month he warned Trump against dismantling the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran.<br /><br /> Steinmeier has pushed hard to end fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, and condemned Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.<br /><br /> The outgoing president is 77-year-old Joachim Gauck, a Lutheran pastor who made his mark as an anti-communist leader in the former East Germany.<br /><br /> Critical time<br /><br /> Germany’s new foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel takes on that job at a critical time as his country tries to unite a divided post-Brexit European Union, contain an assertive Russia and work out a new relationship with Washington under Trump.<br /><br /> Gabriel in a speech to diplomats after he took office said: “Whatever noises we’re hearing from the United States, transatlantic ties must remain a key orientation.”<br /><br /> “Our hand should remain outstretched for respectful cooperation based on … openness, honesty and what our constitutions stand for – freedom, democracy and the rule of law, as well as mutual responsibility.”<br />
